CPC, ACF, CNPP defend Buhari
The biting attacks on Buhari were immediately dismissed by the CPC which threw its weight behind its 2011 presidential candidate. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin said yesterday that General Buhari was only reiterating what many Nigerians had been saying for long.
"They are merely talking balderdash; what General Buhari has said is what many Nigerians have expressed . Remember Professor Wole Soyinka had said election rigging is violence against people and that they have the right to confront violence with greater violence".
Fashakin who alleged that the PDP connived with INEC to rig the 2011 general election and opposition parties had said it would not be business as usual in 2015, stressed, "PDP colluded with Professor Atahiru Jega INEC to foist Jonathan on us. That's why we are battling with this clueless government. There must be sanctity of votes of Nigerian electorate.
"What Buhari was trying to say is that, it would not be business as usual. So, only the guilty should be afraid of retribution. It is certain that retribution is coming. So, why should PDP be afraid"?
The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF responding through its national publicity secretary, Anthony A.Z. Sani said Buhari's comment was nothing new as he noted that many eminent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo had also inferred as such.
"Buhari has not said anything that has not been said before. What people are saying is that he should not have said it because he has mass appeal among the people."
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, on its part also backed Buhari saying the call from the former Head of State was for the enthronement of a transparent election process.
CNPP's Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said yesterday:
"The problem on ground now is due to the fact that many of those holding elective positions were not elected by the people, in actual fact. Therefore they don't have any sense of accountability and responsibility towards the people."
There were also mixed reactions to the statement from notable stakeholders yesterday:
It's an explosive statement— Sagay
Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay said "It was a very explosive statement. I agree that we have had enough of election rigging. All other countries have left us behind, countries like Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Every other country has been able to have free and fair elections except Nigeria; it is time for us to wake up and eliminate that disease from our democracy. So, I agree with him that we must have free and fair elections, but not on the issue of bloodshed because that is a bit frightening and a bit extreme. But I think those who have been rigging and getting away with it, should also have a rethink that it is time for peoples' vote to count. Nigeria has been left behind."
That is Buhari's opinion—Falae
One time presidential candidate of the All Nigeria's People Party, ANPP, Chief Olu Falae said "that is his own opinion. I am not sure whether 2015 is not too far away, given all the multitude of problems that we have. We can only pray that we survive till 2015. I am not even talking about elections; I am talking about the survival of this country because I think that is the paramount issue now."
It's a serious statement— Ayo Adebanjo
Former NADECO chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said: "It is a very serious statement he made but it is also very difficult to fault him. One would not want any violence but for the sake of the country, should there be no free and fair elections, I agree with that statement. I cannot rule it out because people are tensed up. For the elections to be conducted now and not reflecting the wishes of the people, heaven help us."
It's a reckless statement— Fasoranti
On his part, National leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti lampooned Buhari and described the retired general's remarks as a "reckless statement." Fasoranti said "that is a very reckless statement coming from an elder statesman."
His statement is a warning to Nigerians— Fasehun
Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun said Buhari's remark remains a warning signal.
According to him, "I think he must have spoken too early but Nigerians desire to have a free, fair and credible election come 2015. The election of 1993, which was free and fair but was annulled, has left Nigeria bruised for some time. Mr Buhari is giving that warning, he is acting as an elder statesman and former Head of State who feels that unfair elections may be a stumbling block and progress in 2015. It is a warning which is good for the country. He is not threatening.
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Please I urge our leaders to handle Nigerian security problem with utmost care it deserves as failure to do so will cost us a lot. God bless Nigeria. From Phil, Kwale Delta State, Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteBe it warning, threatening, joking or buhari was serious about killing innocent Nigerian by 2015. All i know is that buhari will not live to see that expected time of blood shed.
ReplyDeleteGod will judge for his wicked act. He was once a head of state but does not want another person to rule.
Useless born to rule buhari.
I must start by apologizing for my next sentence. Some of our elders seem to be losing their objectivity. I do not understand why they would not see the damage Buhari’s statements can do to Nigeria. Even if he is speaking against a corrupt system i.e. Nigeria’s election system. Even then, his statements are loaded with hate and personal agenda. Our elders please consider the following and guide us:
ReplyDeleteFirst, the elections were declared by ALL independent observers as free & fair. Now there might have been rigging, but relative to previous elections in Nigeria and the standards expected by the independent observers, the elections represented the desires of majority of the people. This is what elections are to do - reflect the desires of the majority and NOT always everyone.
Second, these statements made by our former Head of State are against the stability of the State and the Government. I am no lawyer but, I believe there is somewhere in our constitution that considers such statements to be TREASON. Here is a man who forcefully took over the government of this country in 1984 (according to him, "in the interest of the people". Now the same people he wanted to protect in 1984, he is now destroying; by making statements that are promoting violence and ending in hundreds of lives being lost. This makes him (in my opinion) responsible for the deaths of these people.
All I have learnt about Major General Mohammed Buhari in the last one year is that he only wants this Presidency to achieve his personal goals (Lord knows what they are). The welfare of Nigeria and Nigerians is the last thing on his mind. He does not care. So for as long as he continues to contest, I will continue to campaign and vote against him.
I never thought I would be grateful to IBB for anything (as he single-handedly institutionalized corruption in our dear Nigeria), but for overthrowing Buhari, I must say "Good Job" even if it has been rumored to have been for less than honorable reasons.
Anonymous that started by apologizing for his next sentence, WELL-SAID. Very reasonable line of thought. I wholly agree with you.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can recall, rigged elections have always been sequelled by violent reaction from people who felt short-changed in the process. From the First Republic through the Shagari era to the return of democracy in 1999 there has always been election rigging followed by spates of violence. These outcries by people calling for Buhari's head amazes me. For one thing, Buhari is not the first person to make that statement and we all know that; for another thing, whether Buhari or anyone at all makes such utterance, we all know that when elections are rigged, people are likely to react violently in some quarters. That the PDP and the clueless government it has installed has decided to pick on the General and make some political capital out of his statement does not rule out the glaring reality that when you rig elections, expect violent retribution. It's a simple law of election experiences. Like the statement credited to the Great Professor Wole Soyinka in the Nigerian Eye online, election rigging is violence against the electorate and the electorate reserves the inalienable right to combat violence with violence.
ReplyDeleteThe 'violence' is always against the innocent man on the street who had nothing to do with or even knew about the election rigging! How come its never directed at the so called people in power? I don't respect Buhari and i don't agree with his views..........times without number, he has continued to allow the masses to suffer for his selfish desires!!
ReplyDeleteBuhari should recognise that its time for a generational change in Leadership.
ReplyDeleteIn the US,Britain and some other countries, their leaders are in their 40s'. We expect men like Buhari to act as Elder Statemen to the younger politicians (Buhari will be about 72 years old then !!!) who will contest elections in 2015, not call for the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians over allegedly rigged elections.
Is really a Shame that people we are looking up to cannot lead us,look at haw leaders are making comment with fear,instead of condeming the evil statement that can lead to another Bloodbath.calling it oppinion.that is why Nigeria is going down the drain,good men are too scared to do what is right.is it when this evil few lead us into war?May GOD raise radical but GODly men against all this evil men in this country,Amen.
ReplyDelete............all we need is PRAYER!!!
ReplyDeleteLET US KEEP PRAYING FOR US'
jay'tings